Careers in Human Resources

Employment outlook and opportunities

Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources (OBHR) is designed to prepare you for a career in a variety of fields including Human Resources Management, Organizational Consulting, and Industrial Relations. You’ll gain an understanding of the fundamentals of business, general knowledge of all the business options, as well as a range of management and consulting skills. OBHR continues to grow in strategic importance.

OBHR is divided into two main types of activities - transactional and transformational:

  • Transactional activities are administrative activities that must be done regularly in an organization, such as recruiting, selection, administering benefit plans, collective agreements, conducting performance reviews, technical training, reports and statistics.
  • Transformational activities are strategic in nature and involve changing systems, structures, and behaviours to improve organizational performance. For example, managing change efforts, managing a corporate culture, leadership development, organizational design, job design, and design of conflict resolution processes.

Many employment opportunities will continue to be in the transactional area while large employment growth is being seen from the transformational area.


Skill set required

  • People skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Analytical and critical-thinking skills
  • Strategic thinking
  • Computer savvy
  • Communication skills (both oral and written)
  • Ability to work with people of various cultural and educational backgrounds
  • Ability to switch gears quickly (e.g.: from administrator to counselor to negotiator)
  • Business acumen
  • Ability to multitask

OBHR Co-op

Get OBHR experience during your degree. Business Co-op students complete a total of 12 months of full-time, paid work with up to three different companies. Past OBHR Co-op students have worked at companies such as PepsiCo, Lafarge Canada, Whistler Blackcomb and SNC Lavalin.

Start a career in OBHR

Some potential job titles and future career paths include:

  • Business Analyst
  • Compensation Analyst
  • Recruitment Consultant
  • HR Assistant
  • Labour Relations Analyst
  • HR Generalist
  • Interview Event Coordinator
  • Instructional Designer
  • Talent Management Coordinator

Additional education or certification may be required for some occupations (e.g. completion of association registration, a professional program, or specialized studies). Those seeking to further their careers in HR can pursue a Certified Human Resources Professional designation (CHRP).

Who hires BCom OBHR grads?

  • BC Hydro
  • Boeing Company 
  • Boston Consulting Group 
  • Construction Labour Relations Association 
  • Fraser Health Authority 
  • Imperial Tobacco 
  • Lululemon
  • Mercer Canada Ltd.
  • Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)
  • SAP Business Objects 
  • Strive Recruitment
  • Vancouver Coastal Health 
  • WorkSafe BC 
  • ZSA Legal Recruitment

How do I find jobs in Human Resources?

You can find opportunities in many places, including:

  • COOL job postings 
  • Company job postings
  • Career fairs and company info sessions
  • Connections made through Co-op work terms
  • UBC faculty leads
  • Business Career Centre staff leads
  • Self-networking

Other job sites:


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